Google’s founder and chief executive Larry Page has a superpower and it’s been revealed by a former Google executive. Well, not any old former colleague, but Yahoo chief Marissa Mayer.

On stage at the closing of the second day of the advertising industry’s IAB Mixx conference in New York, Mayer was asked by journalist Charlie Rose to enlighten the crowd with some insight on fellow tech executive and colleagues, and she obliged.

According to the technology news blog AllThingsD, Mayer said: “Larry’s superpower is asking “Why not? Why does it have to be this way?"

“And so, he loves to ask “why not, why not, why not." His super power is asking “why not." On everything. It helps him challenge," she said.

Larry Page co-founded Google in 1998.
Photo: Google

Of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg she said he is “incredibly insightful about people".

“And that makes him a great leader, it makes him a great recruiter."

Of her own qualities, Mayer said as CEO, “listening" is of great importance.